The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon high school students would lose up to a quarter of their programs if grades 10 to 12 are added to Creighton Community School. That's the word from Flin Flon Superintendent of Schools Blaine Veitch, who said the school division would have to trim its budget if it lost the approximately 130 Saskatchewan students who attend high school in Flin Flon. "There would be a reduction of 20 to 25 per cent of programs and staff at the high schools, Hapnot Collegiate and Many Faces Education Centre," he said. "We're not sure what the exact impact would be, but there would be reductions." The Creighton School Division currently pays the Flin Flon School Division roughly $7,000 for every Creighton and Denare Beach student attending school on the Manitoba side. The loss of the Saskatchewan high school students would leave the Flin Flon School Division out about $910,000 each year. But finances is only one issue on Veitch's mind. "It would also have an impact on the students and the climate of the schools," he said. "The Saskatchewan students are a valued part of our school community. There's a good mixing of students between our communities, so we don't get small numbers of students who are together through their whole K-12 years. I think the exposure to a larger school also helps to prepare students for the larger world outside our communities." Veitch is also concerned that the loss of so many students from Flin Flon might put pressure on the school division to amalgamate with a nearby division. "Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are reducing their number of school divisions," he said. Last week, a task force assembled by the Creighton School Division released a 47-page report stating that it is feasible to implement a full high school program at Creighton Community School. The report, which Veitch called "fair and honest," stated that there would be a host of potential benefits for the Creighton School Division from the move, including projected annual savings of $300,000 and local control of the high school program. The matter is now in the hands of the Creighton School Division, which has promised to hold public consultations prior to reaching a judgment. Before a decision is made, Veitch hopes that officials with the two school divisions can discuss the matter at length. "It's clear that it's Creighton's decision," he said. "It's our hope that prior to any decisions that are made, that they would discuss alternatives with the Flin Flon School Division. As our communities continue to get smaller, there is increased value in us working together rather than us splitting apart." The superintendent said he understood the desire of some Creighton and Denare Beach residents to have more governance over the high school program in which their children enroll. It's a matter that has been looked at in the past and should be reviewed again, in his view. See 'Governance' P.# Con't from P.# "About a year ago, we tried to have the two school boards work toward a joint governance, but it fell apart," he said. "Since then, we've had a change in our board, and Creighton will potentially have a change in its board after the upcoming election. I think it would make sense to again discuss the possibility of a governance model that would allow Saskatchewan people to have a greater say in the education of their students." As far as the concern that Saskatchewan students may have a hard time adjusting to the Manitoba curriculum, Veitch said the Flin Flon School Division has worked to address this issue. "I think right now we have a curriculum that is blended for the benefit of both Saskatchewan and Manitoba students," he said, offering the example of the grade 9 math course in Creighton, which he said has been modified to meet the level of grade 9 math taught in Flin Flon. Veitch commented that he believes Saskatchewan students benefit immensely from the educational programming offered in Flin Flon, including vocational courses, dual-credit classes with Keewatin Community College and a successful, established alternative education structure at Many Faces. The superintendent stressed that he believes the feasibility report contained some "good ideas," but added he feels some of the concepts could be implemented under the current high school structure. Should the Creighton School Division decide to implement the additional grades, Veitch said that the quality of education for Flin Flon students would not suffer. "If Creighton decides to do this, we will continue and be able to offer good programming," he said. "The academic quality will be there." About 90 Saskatchewan students attend Hapnot and about another 40 are enrolled at Many Faces. Approximately 20 additional Saskatchewan students attend the French Immersion program at McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac.
